Sisters city manager Gorayeb resigns under fire

A tumultuous chapter ended in Sisters on Thursday, resulting in the resignation of city manager Andrew Gorayeb.

“It was a surprise, I think, to everybody,” said Sisters resident Pat Reinhart.

Several employee complaints were filed against Gorayeb that resulted in disciplinary action.

“He had decided not to accept that discipline,” City Councilor Andrea Blum said Friday

Instead, he handed in his resignation letter, saying: “I’m greatly troubled by the disproportionately harsh discipline.”

He also said that prior to the investigation, he had never been notified or warned about deficiencies in his performance.

“He read the report,” Blum said. “He was there when the situations occurred that the allegations were made under.”

Some Sisters residents said Friday they are in the dark about the details.

“I don’t know really what the conflict was,” said Lance Trowbridge.

An outside investigator came in, but all the interviews conducted with employees are now part of Gorayeb’s personnel file and won’t be released to the public.

“It didn’t have to do anything with a criminal nature or a sexual nature or anything like that,” Blum said.

The city agreed to pay Gorayeb over $100,000 in severance.

“It’s a shame that we ended up this way,” said Sisters City Councilor Daivd Asson, the lone no vote on the deal against four colleagues. “It’s harmful to staff and the city, and I think it’s just plain wrong.”

Councilors in favor of the deal said it’s designed to prevent further lawsuits.
Asson said the taxpayers’ money could have gone to many other projects, like affordable housing.

“The amount of money that we’ve spent over the last five years to change management is approaching $300,000,” Asson said. “It’s horrible to Sisters.”

It’s not the first time Gorayeb resigned from a position in Sisters. Last year, he left a post as a parks and rec lacrosse coach after parents complained over his treatment of some team members.

The city hopes it is closing a controversial chapter, and to move forward quickly. City officials said they have already a few candidates in mind for the position.